Chassidus for Life

In this episode, we are learning the Nesivos Shalom on Parshat Vayeira!If you want to follow along inside, it is in Nesivos Shalom Bereishit on page kuf yud zayin (117). You can find a pdf of the piece here.This week’s episode is anonymously sponsored l’ilui nishmas my grandmother, Tzipporah bas Chaim Dov HaLevi, Morah Cecile Stein. Thank you so much to this week’s generous sponsor! If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode, we are learning the Nesivos Shalom on Parshat Lech Lecha!If you want to follow along inside, it is in the Nesivos Shalom on page sameach bet (62). You can find a pdf of the piece here.Thank you to this week’s generous sponsors!This week’s episode is sponsored l’ilui nishmas Hillel ben Yoel Yaakov, as well as my grandmother, Tzipporah bas Chaim Dov HaLevi.This week’s episode is sponsored by my sister and brother-in-law l’ilui nishmas our grandmother, Tzipporah bas Chaim Dov HaLevi, Morah Cecile Stein. In her words: "Hashem and His Torah, family, and education were three of the things that made our Bubby the happiest."If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode, we are learning the Nesivos Shalom on Sukkot and Simchat Torah!If you want to follow along inside, it is in Nesivos Shalom Chelek Bet, on page kuf peh tet (189). You can find a pdf of the piece here.This week’s episode is anonymously sponsored for a refuah sheleimah for Sarah bas Tolsa and shalom for all of Klal Yisrael. Thank you so much to this week’s generous sponsor! If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode, we are learning the Nesivos Shalom on the Asseres Yemei Teshuva and Yom Kippur. If you want to follow along inside, it is in Nesivos Shalom Chelek Bet, on page kuf lamed tet (139). You can find a pdf of the piece here. This week’s episode is sponsored by Eli Waxman l'illy nishmas his father רפאל חיים עוזר ישראל בן הרב יוסף אליעזר ז׳ל. He was a truly loving father and B"H has finally come to Eretz Yisrael to his final resting place. May his neshama have an aliyah. Thank you so much to Eli for sponsoring this week’s episode. If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode, we are learning the Nesivos Shalom on Rosh Hashanah!If you want to follow along inside, it is in Nesivos Shalom Chelek Bet, on page kuf chaf gimmel (123). You can find a pdf of the piece here.This week’s episode is anonymously sponsored for a good year for all! Thank you so much to this week’s generous sponsor! If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode, we are learning the Nesivos Shalom on Rosh Hashanah and the essence of the shofar!If you want to follow along inside, it is in Nesivos Shalom Chelek Bet, on page kuf chaf heh (125). You can find a pdf of the piece here.This week’s episode is generously sponsored by Tikva Hecht l’iluy nishmas Harry & Jennie Hecht and Rabbi Shraga Phyvle & Gitel Rosensweig. Thank you so much for sponsoring this week’s episode! If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode, we are learning the Nesivos Shalom on the month of Elul!If you want to follow along inside, it is in Nesivos Shalom on Devarim page reish nun aleph (251). You can find a pdf of the piece here.This week’s episode is sponsored by Eliora Habshush in honor of her engagement to Achiya and in gratitude to Hashem for her special journey to finding her zivug at the right time. Mazal tov Eliora, and thank you so much for generously sponsoring this week’s episode! If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode, we are learning the Nesivos Shalom on Parshat Shoftim!If you want to follow along inside, it is in Nesivos Shalom on Devarim page tzadi tet (99). You can find a pdf of the piece here.Sadly there is no sponsor for this week’s episode. I can’t stress enough that your sponsorships are what make this podcast happen! If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode, we are learning the Nesivos Shalom on the month of Elul. We will see just how much power it has to change our lives in the upcoming year... if we take advantage of the opportunity!If you want to follow along inside, it is in Nesivos Shalom on Devarim page reish lamed gimmel (233). You can find a pdf of the piece here.This week’s episode is generously sponsored in memory of Mordecai ben Chaim Weinstein a"h. Thank you so much to this week's generous sponsor! If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode, we are learning the Nesivos Shalom on Tisha B'Av, the 9th of Av. If you want to follow along inside, it is in Nesivos Shalom on Bamidbar page kuf tzadi vav (196). You can find a pdf of the piece here.This week’s episode is sponsored anonymously in the zechus of a refuah shelaima for Ben Tzion Chaim ben Shayna Necha. Thank you so much to this week's generous sponsor! If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode, we are learning the Nesivos Shalom on Bein HaMeitzarim, the Three Weeks. If you want to follow along inside, it is in Nesivos Shalom on Bamidbar page kuf tzadi (190). You can find a pdf of the piece here.There is no sponsor for this week’s episode. I can’t stress enough that your sponsorships are what make this podcast happen. If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode, we are learning about Parshat Balak! In it, Bilam says the famous line of mah tovu ohalecha Yaakov, mishkinotecha Yisrael, which Chazal say is the great blessing of having shuls and batei medrash. Chazal also tell us that of all the brachos of Bilam, this is the only one that was not overturned. What is so powerful about this bracha and these places? Why are they so integral to our Jewish life and avodas Hashem? We’ll get into all that and more in this week’s episode!If you want to follow along inside, it is in Nesivos Shalom on Bamidbar page kuf mem aleph (141). You can find a pdf of the piece here.This week’s episode is sponsored anonymously for the safety of the IDF soldiers and the people in Israel, as well as the speedy return of the remaining hostages. Thank you so much to this week's generous sponsor! If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode, we are learning about Parshat Chukat! Based on a poetic section of the parsha, Chazal teach us that those who rule over their yetzer harah should make an accounting of the world. Who are these people who rule over their yetzer harah? What does it mean to make "an accounting of the world"? And what if I haven’t yet overcome my yeter harah? We’ll get into the depth of how to overcome our yetzer harah on every level, and so much more, in this week’s episode!If you want to follow along inside, it is in Nesivos Shalom on Bamidbar page kuf chaf zayin (127). You can find a pdf of the piece here.Thank you so much to this week’s generous anonymous sponsor for consistently supporting the podcast! If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode, we are learning about Parshat Shelach! In it we have chet hameraglim, the tragic sin of the spies and their negative report about the Land of Israel. Very simply, what went wrong? What was Moshe actually thinking when he sent the spies? What were the spies thinking when they came back with their negative report? And how is that meant to shape how we see the Land and relate to wars with our enemies, like the one we are going through at this very moment? We’ll get into all that and more in this week’s episode! If you want to follow along inside, it is in Nesivos Shalom on Bamidbar page samech bet (62). You can find a pdf of the piece here.This week’s episode is sponsored by the following: Noam Miller for the yahrzeit of his mother, Yisraelite bas Kalman Aharon. May her neshama have an aliyah. Anonymously for the Holy people in the Holy Land, and that Hakadosh Baruch Hu should give Am Yisrael the siyata D'Shmaya to succeed in this war and have us celebrating the geulah sheleimah with Moshiach Tzidkeinu at the third Beis HaMikdash bimheirah b'yameinu. Thank you so much to this week’s generous sponsores! If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode, we are learning about Parshat Behaaloscha! In it, the Torah tells us how the Mishkan would travel through the desert - that when the cloud would descend upon the Mishkan they would encamp, and when the cloud would rise up they would follow it. What is the meaning of this could? Why does it cover the Mishkan and why do we follow it? And what does that tell us about our inner Mishkan as we journey through the desert of our lives? We’ll get into all that and more in this week’s episode! If you want to follow along in the text, it is Nesivos Shalom on Bamidbar page mem zayin (47). You can find a pdf of the piece here.This week’s episode is sponsored anonymously in the zchus of children for Shalom Aryeh ben Perel Esther and Tamar Hadassa bas Perel Esther. Thank you so much to this week's generous sponsor! If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode we are learning about Shavuos! What is so special about this holy day? What more is happening beneath the surface than us simply receiving the Torah? How do we link into this chag and get the most out of it? We'll get into all that and more in this week's episode!If you want to follow along in the text, it is Nesiovs Shalom Chelek Bet page shin lamed daled (334). You can find a pdf of the piece here. Sadly there is no sponsor for this week's episode. It's your sponsorships that make this podcast happen. If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode we are learning about Lag BaOmer! What is this mysterious day really about? Why do we light bonfires and dance? What is so unique and special about Rebbi Shimon bar Yochai that we celebrate his yurtzeit in this way? And what are we meant to get out of Lag BaOmer? We'll get into all that and more in this week's episode!If you want to follow along in the text, it is Nesiovs Shalom Chelek Bet page shin chaf zayin (327). You can find a pdf of the piece here.This week's episode is sponsored anonymously for a refuah sheleimah for Sarah bas Tolsa. Thank you so much to this week's generous sponsor! If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode we dive into the unique time of year of Sefiras HaOmer - the seven week period between Pesach and Shavuos! The Midrash tells us to make sure to take the Omer seriously, and that by keeping it, we will merit to inherit Eretz Yisrael. What is so special about the mitzvah of Sefirat HaOmer that the Midrash puts it on such a pedestal? And why does it assume we would not have given it proper attention in the first place? We are going to get into one of the deep lessons of Sefirah in this week's episode!If you want to follow along in the text, it is Nesiovs Shalom Chelek Bet page shin chaf bet (322). You can find a pdf of the piece here.This week's episode is sponsored anonymously for a refuah sheleimah for Sarah bas Tolsa. Thank you so much to this week's generous sponsor! If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode dive into the unique time of year of Sefiras HaOmer - the seven week period between Pesach and Shavuos! What is this time of the year really about in its depth? What transformation does God expect us to go through during this spiritually charged process, that seems to have 50 distinct stages to it? We'll get into all that and much more in this week's episode!If you want to follow along in the text, it is Nesiovs Shalom Chelek Bet page shin yud zayin (317). You can find a pdf of the piece here.This week's episode is sponsored anonymously for a refuah sheleimah for Sarah bas Tolsa. Thank you so much to this week's generous sponsor! If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode on the Pesach Haggadah we are going to discuss the arbah banim, the four sons or four children. It's easy to categorize the children in this way: the wise one, the evil on, the simpleton, and the one who cannot ask. But what is really going on with these  children? If we read their questions and answers closely, what are they struggling with on a deeper level? How can we understand them, empathize with them, and respond to them in a meaningful way to elevate their avodas Hashem? And perhaps even do the same for our own inner child? We'll get into all that and more in this episode! If you want to follow along in the text, it is Nesiovs Shalom Chelek Bet page reish nun gimmel (253). You can find a pdf of the piece here.Thank you so much to the generous sponsors of these episodes on the Haggadah: Anonymously in honor of a refuah sheleimah for Binyamin Baer ben Channah and a shidduch for Yakira bas Aviva. Anonymously in the zechus of Emunah Sara bas Binyamin Shmuel, and to Rav Charnoff for giving over amazing Torah and helping people stay connected to Hashem. Thank you so much to our sponsors! If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this first of two episodes on the Pesach Haggadah we are going to discuss the concept of matchil b'genut u'mesayeim b'shevach, that the Haggadah starts with us at our lowest. Why does story of the Haggadah have to begin this way? Why is this the state we need to be in at the time of the Exodus? And what does that tell us about when we are at our own personal lowest? We'll get into all of that and much more in this episode!  If you want to follow along in the text, it is Nesiovs Shalom Chelek Bet page reish nun bet (252). You can find a pdf of the piece here.Thank you so much to the generous sponsors of these episodes on the Haggadah: Anonymously in the zechus of Emunah Sara bas Binyamin Shmuel, and to Rav Charnoff for giving over amazing Torah and helping people stay connected to Hashem. Anonymously in honor of a refuah sheleimah for Binyamin Baer ben Channah and a shidduch for Yakira bas Aviva. Thank you so much to our sponsors! If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode we get into Pesach and the mitzvah of bedikas chametz, the days long search for chamtz in our homes. We put so much effort into searing every corner and crack of our house to make sure there isn't even a crumb of chametz on Pesach. In terms of our internal avodah, why is this so important to do? Why are we required to be so much more thorough when it comes to searching for chametz than almost any other mitzvah? And why do we need to go so far as to burn it afterwards? We'll get into all of that and much more in this episode!  If you want to follow along in the text, it is Nesiovs Shalom Chelek Bet page reish chat tet (229). You can find a pdf of the piece here.This week's episode is generously sponsored by Dr. Noah and Shaindy Lindenberg in the zechus of a refuah sheleimah for Hillel Natan ben Esther Risha.  Thank you so much to the Lindenbergs for sponsoring this week's episode! If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode we are going to get into Parshat Pekudei, the final Parsha in Sefer Shemot! After many weeks working to construct the Mishkan, Moshe finally put it up. But it takes seven days of him constructing it and breaking it down, multiple times per day, until God's presence finally rests on the Mishkan. What is the meaning of this process? And what does it mean for how we relate to our internal Mishkan and how to make sure God dwells within us? We'll get into all of that and much more in this episode!  If you want to follow along in the text, it is Nesiovs Shalom Sefer Shemot page reish ayin chet (278). You can find a pdf of the piece here. This week's episode is generously sponsored by Binyamin and Tova Bakaev in honor of Rosh Chodesh Nissan and a refuah sheleima for Alter Yonah ben Sylvia. Thank you so much to the Bakaevs for sponsoring this week's episode! If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode we are going to get into Parshat Parah, one of the special parshoyot we read leading into Pesach! Why do we read about the Parah Adumah, the purifying red heifer, this week? What is so powerful about this mysterious mitzvah? And how does it in fact begin to prepare us for Pesach? We'll get into all of that and  much more in this episode!  If you want to follow along in the text, it is Nesiovs Shalom Sefer Shemot page shin yud (310). You can find a pdf of the piece here.This week's episode is sponsored by the Betsalel family in honor of the yurtzeit of Adina's great-grandmother, Esther bat Shoshana. May her neshamah have an aliyah. Thank you so much to this week's generous sponsor!If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

*Link to my Parsha WhatsApp chat mentioned in this episode - click here to join.In this episode we are going to get into the meaning of the Gemara that says that a person is supposed to drink on Purim to the point of not being able to tell the difference between the cursedness of Haman and the blessedness of Mordechai. Why would this be something to strive for on such a holy day? And where are we really meant to get to internally through this process, whether we drink wine on Purim or not? We will get into all of that and so much more in this episode!  If you want to follow along in the text, it is Nesiovs Shalom booklet on Purim on page nun zayin (57). You can find a pdf of the piece here.This week's episode is anonymously sponsored for the refuah sheleimah of Binyamin Baer ben Chana and for the zechus that all Jews in the world should find meaning in the 613 mitzvot. Thank you so much to this week's generous sponsor!If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode on Parshat Terumah we are going to discuss the personal avodas Hashem of the Mishkan. Why does God dedicate so many parshiyot of the Torah to something that we only use for a brief time in the desert? Why is it so significant? How is it relevant to me? And why do the parshiyot of the Mishkan almost always overlap with Adar and Purim? We will get into all of that and more in this episode!  If you want to follow along in the text, it is Nesiovs Shalom on Shemot page kuf tzadi heh (195). You can find a pdf of the piece here.This week's episode is sponsored by the Merkin family. Thank you so much to this week's generous sponsor!If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode on Parshat Mishpatim we are going to discuss what it means to be "A kingdom of priests and a holy nation." God tells us this is what we need to aspire to in order to receive the Torah. But what does kadosh, holy, really mean? Why is kedusha so central to being a Jew and entering into a conversant with God? How can I achieve kedusha myself? Well get into all of that and more in this episode!  If you want to follow along in the text, it is Nesiovs Shalom on Shemot page kuf ayin zayin (177). You can find a pdf of the piece here.This episode is sponsored anonymously with the following message: "It is in honor of Rav Charnoff's incredible impact on my religious journey and so many other Lev HaTorah talmidim. It is also in memory of my grandfather, Rav Shneur Avraham ben HaRav Yosef, whose 4th yurtzeit is this week." Thank you so much to this week's generous sponsor!If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode we are going to dive into the month of Shvat and the holiday of Tu B'Shvat! What is the month of Shvat all about? Why is the month and its holiday so focused in on food? What does it mean to eat in an elevated and holy way? We'll get into all that and more today!Thank you so much to this week's anonymous sponsor!If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode on Pashat Beshalach and Parshat Shira we discuss Az Yashir, the song that Israel sang at the sea. What was so tremendous about that moment of song? Why does the Midrash claim that God was waiting for this level of song since he created Adam in Gan Eden? What is so lofty about song in general, and how do we reach those heights of song ourselves? We'll get into all that and more!  If you want to follow along in the text, it is Nesiovs Shalom on Shemot page kuf tet vav (115). You can find a pdf of the piece here. This episode is sponsored anonymously for a refuah sheleimah for Sarah bat Tolsa and for general peace in Klal Yisrael. This episode is sponsored anonymously with the following message: "It is with hakarat hatov to Rabbi Charnoff for establishing a women's midrasha at Queens College, which allowed me to continue my classroom Torah learning. And l'iluy nishmat HaRav Yehudah ben Dov Ber, Rabbi Yehuda Kelemer, from who I learned so much. May we all merit in their zechus to truly experience samcheinu b'yeshuasecha, boundless joy from Your salvation, Hashem."Thank you so much to this week's generous sponsors!If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode we discuss the ninth of the 10 plagues, the plague of darkness. Our Sages tell us that Moshe brought down a darkness from the heavens. How can there be darkness in heaven? What does it mean for that darkness to be on earth? How did the Jews really have light during the plague? And what does that teach us about brining the light into our own lives? We get into all of that and more!If you want to follow along in the text, it is Nesiovs Shalom on Shemot page ayin gimmel (73). You can find a pdf of the piece here. This episode is sponsored anonymously for a refuah sheleimah for Sarah bat Tolsa and for general peace in Klal Yisrael. Thank you so much to this week's generous sponsor!If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode we discuss the challenge of having faith in the darkness of exile, the unique level of faith it took for Israel to get out of Egypt, and the faith we need to get out of our own darkness, personal and national. This was given on the evening of the release of the first three hostages, so during the episode we're going to lightly touch on the emunah involved in the miracle of their release, as well as the challenges of the war we've been in for so long. I hope it will be an emotional, challenging, and meaningful journey. If you want to follow along in the text, it is Nesiovs Shalom on Shemot page nun (50). You can find a pdf of the piece here.This episode is sponsored anonymously for a refuah sheleimah for Sarah bat Tolsa and for general peace in Klal Yisrael. Thank you so much to this week's generous sponsor!If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].

In this episode we discuss Moshe's vision of the burning bush that was not consumed. Why did God give him this vision? How does it serve to kick off the reception process? And what does it have to do with the spark of life in each and every one of us? We explore all this and more. If you want to follow along in the text, it is Nesiovs Shalom on Shemot page lamed aleph (31). You can find a pdf of the piece here.This episode is sponsored anonymously by an OU-JLIC Queens College alumnus "with hakarat hatov to Rabbi Charnoff for the tremendous impact he has had on me. One of Rabbi Charnoff's first shiurim on campus was a Nesivos Shalom shiur and it opened me up to new ways of looking at Torah and the world of chassidus, for which I am forever grateful. I'm so glad to see Rabbi Charnoff's teaching of Nesivos Shalom continue to develop and flourish. May our learning together bring us closer to the final redemption bimheirah b'yameinu!"If you would like to sponsor an episode of the podcast, please email Rabbi Charnoff at [email protected].